The St. Ignatius School board has two board seats open, and four candidates have filed.  

The National Center for Education Statistics projects an 8% decline in enrollment nationwide from 2019 to 2030. St. Ignatius Schools reported an increase of over 100 students at the start of the school year, but some Montana schools are seeing a decline, directly impacting their budgets.  

In past reporting, the Leader has witnessed public comment and advocacy for more tribal members or tribal staffing in local schools on the Flathead Reservation. This led the Leader to ask candidates about priorities, tight budgets and tribal advocacy and representation.  

Incumbent Peter Matt  

Matt graduated from St. Ignatius in 1990, and all seven of his children have attended or are currently enrolled in St. Ignatius Schools. He served on the board for 15 years prior to 2024, and after a board member stepped down this last term, he was appointed to serve in their place.  

Matt noted that his previous experience on the board, familiarity with the community, and 25 years with Mission Valley Power have given him a healthy perspective on how an organization runs effectively and efficiently.  

His goals, if elected, are to continue building the school into a competitive educational option that best meets students' needs. He believes in improving test scores, enhancing educational quality and maintaining a safe and effective learning environment. Matt added that he would like to expand the district’s vocational programs.  

Matt said he is pleased with their student retention and enrollment, but if the district experienced a tight budget year, he would focus on student retention. He noted that the district has worked hard to improve its facilities over the past 10 years, and he hopes to continue that trend.  

He said that if enrollment declines, he would have to look at tightening the budget and making those hard choices.  

When asked how he will communicate with parents and board members, Matt said he is always open to conversations with the community. He added that he is also willing to communicate to the best of his knowledge and help direct people to the answers they need.  

If a controversial issue comes before the board, he believes that communication between members and the administration is key to understanding the issue at hand.  

Matt said he is an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and advocates for equal representation in schools. He noted that St. Ignatius has about a 50% Native American population, and the representation is something that needs to be recognized and fortified, he said.  

Michelle and Adam Wood  

Husband and wife Michelle and Adam Wood moved from Texas to their favorite town in the valley, St. Ignatius, in 2008. Their daughter has attended St. Ignatius Schools for the last four years.  

Michelle has spent part of her career as an elementary school teacher in Texas, earned her master's in education, and served as a school counselor in both Texas and Ronan. She was later appointed Lake County Superintendent of Schools and served from 2012 to 2015.  

Michelle later returned to the private sector, where she helps run their family business, Mission Lawn and Landscape, with her husband.  

She believes her experience brings the best of both worlds, combining her passion for supporting students and staff, as she’s been in the “trenches” herself. She noted that her business acumen has also prepared her to explore and manage financial opportunities to enhance the district.  

Adam’s experience comes from the business side, where he’s learned to find money where there's none. He brings experience in construction, facilities management and budgets. After almost 20 years in the valley, he notes the connections and relationships he’s built with the people in trades allow him to help bring skills to get things fixed.  

According to Michelle, they have taken their business from a hundred-dollar bill to a $2.5 million business, “so we know how to get things done.”  

Adam said his dream is to see more schools in the valley lean more on vocational training because he believes it is a strong foundation. Michelle agreed with him and added that school should be a springboard for students to succeed, not just something they have to trudge through.  

“Every young person should have a dream and believe that they can achieve that dream through hard work and community connections,” Michelle said. “And we just want to see that happen with young people.  

Adam’s priorities, if elected, are to ensure everyone knows who he is and is comfortable coming to him with anything.  

Michelle’s priorities include accessing the budget and identifying financial opportunities, such as grants. She’d also like to reduce class sizes because she said larger classes lead to more behavioral issues. Michelle added that teachers are always a priority, and the board should assess how they can support them.  

While she said the district can’t become too grant dependent, she believes there are grants that can support programing while not aversely impacting the students or staff when the money runs out.  

To address the question about how she would prioritize spending, Michelle said people are always the last to be cut, and with a teacher shortage, she feels there is no wiggle room to cut staff. Adam added that there are other ways to figure out how to save money when budgets are tight.  

“I think businesspeople probably make good board members, because failure is not an option, and no is not an answer,” Michelle said.  

Both also said they love people, are involved in the community, and care about listening and helping as much as they can. They noted their community involvement includes softball, track and 4-H.  

“We've made a lot of friends and acquaintances along the way, because we're always listening and trying to help as much as we can,” Michelle said.  

Adam said that if a controversial issue came before the board, he would prioritize student safety. Michelle added that mutual respect is also important, and she would handle the issue with neutrality and wisdom.  

To address the question of tribal representation in schools, Michelle said it’s the board’s responsibility to ensure they accurately represent the entire population. Adam added that everyone is a human first, that no one should be prioritized over the others, and that qualifications matter most.  

Rhianna Ruhkala 

Ruhkala was born and raised in Montana and has lived in the district since 2019. Her children currently attend St. Ignatius Schools, and her family is actively involved in the school and athletics.  

Ruhkala has participated in or led numerous committees and groups both personally and professionally. She stated that her career has been focused on finance, general business and management. Her skills include leadership, communication, confidentiality, integrity, technical and digital expertise and more.  

She said providing quality education is a complex task given the resources available, but one of her top concerns, if elected, is hiring and retaining high-caliber staff. She added that improving and sustaining student enrollment is also critical.  

“As with any committee, the number of challenges and tasks at hand is never small. It takes a cohesive, dynamic and genuine team to provide solutions that align with our philosophy of education and ultimately serve the best interests of our students,” she stated in an email to the Leader.  

To address the question about how she would prioritize spending in a tight budget year, Ruhkala said she would have to fully immerse herself in the school district environment before providing a definitive recommendation. She noted that there is a balance between salaries and other high-priority budget needs, which the school board has to carefully weigh with salary considerations near the top of the priority list.  

Ruhkala added that she is running for the school board to be a positive, practical and effective liaison between the community and the school system. She believes in bringing a sound, focused and respectful approach to the board and community.  

As to how she might handle a controversial issue, she explained that providing quality education in a safe environment is top of mind while handling responsibilities in a manner that is professional, respectful and confidential when appropriate.  

Ruhkala is not affiliated with the Tribes but explained that advocating for all staff is integral to fostering an environment where everyone has a voice. She added that continuing programs and curriculum related to tribal culture is an important area of advocacy, and she believes the school and community are already committed to cultural responsiveness.  

    Peter Matt

   Michelle Wood   Adam Wood

    Rhianna Ruhkala